SARAH NORDIN
MEZZO-SOPRANO
BIOGRAPHY
Praised by Opera News for the “clear beauty” of her voice and her “spot-on comic timing,” mezzo-soprano Sarah Nordin brings an exquisite blend of vocal artistry and strong dramatic instincts to a broad range of repertoire. In the 2025-2026 season, Sarah will début with Redlands Symphony Orchestra in Berlioz’s Les nuits d'été, sing the title role in Carmen with First Coast Opera, return to St. Petersburg Opera as Sesto in Giulio Cesare, and return to Gulfshore Opera as Featured Dancer and Choreographer for Carmen. In the 2024-2025 season, Sarah brought her celebrated Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia to First Coast Opera, débuted with South Dakota Symphony as Sorrine Olsa in Giants in the Earth by Douglas Moore, returned to St. Petersburg Opera as Countess Charlotte in A Little Night Music, and débuted with Utah Festival Opera as General Cartwright in Guys and Dolls/Mrs. Harcourt in Anything Goes. Highlights of the 2023-2024 season included joining Orlando Sings for Bach’s B Minor Mass, Great Falls Symphony for Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, and First Coast Opera for Ruth in Pirates of Penzance.
Known for her interpretations of Rossini and Mozart, Sarah has received accolades for possessing “a voice that fits Mozart like a glove.” She has been featured in recent seasons as Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Opera Orlando and Gulf Coast Symphony as well as the title role in La Cenerentola with Geneva Light Opera. Likewise, her Cherubino and Marcellina in Le Nozze di Figaro, Zerlina and Elvira in Don Giovanni, Isabella in L’Italiana in Algeri and Dorabella in Così fan tutte have charmed audiences at Opera Tampa, Long Island Lyric Opera, Opera Orlando, Gulf Shore Opera, St. Petersburg Opera, Landlocked Opera, Taconic Opera and Winter Opera of St. Louis.
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Additionally, Ms. Nordin has received great acclaim for her numerous performances in the title role of Carmen, most recently with Bel Cantanti Opera, the Missouri Symphony, and Gulfshore Opera. Opera News raved, “Sarah Nordin demonstrated in this role that her voice can hold its own with the big guns. Its clear beauty resounded effortlessly. She brought the true spirit of Carmen to the stage.” Other notable roles include Maddalena in Rigoletto, Charlotte in Werther, Nicklausse in Tales of Hoffmann, Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, Komponist in Ariadne auf Naxos and Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus in multiple venues, including First Coast Opera, Opera Huntsville and Hubbard Hall Opera Theatre.
New works and musicals comprise a significant part of Sarah’s career. Most notably, she premiered the role of Mary Eden Thompson in The Circuit Rider’s Wife, which included a three-year tour and original cast recording, Lydia in Penelope Ann’s Revenge (a sequel to Arthur Sullivan’s Cox and Box), The Conductress in the world premiere of Un bocca al lupo, and she premiered the role of Annie Jump Cannon in Galaxies in her Eyes. Her favorite classic musical theater roles performed are Nellie in South Pacific, Maria in Sound of Music, Sandy in Grease, and Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof. Sarah has been a Young Artist with Opera Theatre of St Louis, Central City Opera and Opera North, a Professional Artist in Residence with Gulf Shore Opera and spent two years as a member of the Studio Artist Programs at both Orlando Opera and Knoxville Opera.
Current as of July 23, 2025
CRITICAL ACCLAIM
"...world-class voice that can best be described as nothing less than celestial..." - Dave Elias, NBC Channel 2
"...fabulous vocal color and surefooted rhythm." - Chris Buchanan, Berkshire Fine Arts
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"Sarah Nordin...made the strongest impression vocally...projecting glinting tone." – Opera News
Giants in the Earth – "It was the bass-baritone Andrew Gilstrap and mezzo Sarah Nordin as the ‘second couple’ Hans and Sorrine Olsa, eagerly awaiting the arrival of Per and Beret as the opera opens, who made the strongest impression vocally, he singing with plenty of presence and she projecting glinting tone."
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"Sarah Nordin...capture[s] the ferocious nature of [Carmen]..." – Cache Valley Daily
Galaxy of Stars – “Mezzo-soprano Sarah Nordin is shown here in the role of Carmen in the opera by Georges Bizet of the same name. Although Ms. Nordin was dressed in a ball gown during the one-night stand of 'Galaxy of Stars' at the Ellen Eccles Theatre on July 23, she still captured the ferocious nature of the iconic character during her sizzling rendition of the Habanera"
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"...her voice can hold its own with the big guns...." – Opera News
Cavalleria rusticana – "Sarah Nordin demonstrated in the role of Lola, as in previous productions, that her voice can hold its own with the big guns. Its clear beauty resounded effortlessly."
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"...fabulous vocal color and surefooted rhythm..." – Berkshire Fine Arts
Gianni Schicchi – "For Zita, the old matriarch, Sarah Nordin switches easily between a sharp tongued spinster and a conniving pseudo sexual black lace harpy all done with fabulous vocal color and surefooted rhythm."
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"...Sarah Nordin’s voice rang effortlessly..." – Opera News
Il trovatore – "The role of Inez was expertly delivered, Sarah Nordin’s voice rang effortlessly. Walk-on roles often go unacknowledged, but her part was essential to the whole."
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"...with considerable poise and polish, milking the comic moments in da Ponte’s libretto along the way...." – Ladue News
Così fan tutte – "Integral to the success of Winter Opera’s effort was uniformly splendid singing by Sarah Nordin, as Dorabella. She handled her arias with considerable poise and polish, milking the comic moments in da Ponte’s libretto along the way."
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"...she still captured the ferocious nature of the iconic character during her sizzling rendition of the "Habanera"...." – Cache Valley Daily
Carmen – "Although Ms. Nordin was dressed in a ball gown during the one-night stand of 'Galaxy of Stars' at the Ellen Eccles Theatre on July 23, she still captured the ferocious nature of the iconic character during her sizzling rendition of the "Habanera.""